Minor 145;tortured146; in police custody

According to the Kotwali police, Vimal G C was caught red-handed by a resident of Nabha stealing some wires on Saturday afternoon. 8220;We recovered the wires from his possession and a case under Sections 454, and 380 of the IPC was registered against the accused. Now, a case of attempt to murder under Section 309 has been registered against Vimal,8221; said Station House Officer Kotwali, Gurinder Bal, who was waiting outside the Intensive Care Unit.

Sources said the boy was produced at the juvenile trial court on Sunday.

8220;The boy was brutally tortured at the Kotwali police station in Nabha. The cops were under pressure to recover the stolen material from the accused and used the third degree. Vimal even tried to commit suicide by strangulating himself with his vest in the lock-up,8221; said a source.

SHO Bal admitted to a degree of negligence on part of the staff but denied allegations of torture.

8220;The boy tried to tear off his vest and strangulate himself. But the on-duty sentry saw his legs shaking and opened the lock up. I was intimated about the incident at 8.40 am today,8221; he said.

When asked why the victim was admitted to hospital at 11.50 am a delay of three hours despite Nabha being only a 40-minute drive from Patiala, the SHO had no reply. 8220;The boy was taken to a local doctor before going to Rajindra Hospital. I will look into the matter and ask the on-duty munshi Sarabjeet Singh and sentry Satguru Singh to explain the case. I was out in the field when the incident took place,8221; he said.

Nabha Deputy Superintendent of Police Arshdeep said the sequence of events is still unclear. 8220;Action will be initiated as per the law. An enquiry has been ordered into the matter and no guilty official would be allowed to escape,8221; he said.

Undertrial attacks inspector
Ambala:An undertrial facing charges of murdering a Home Guard at the Ambala Cantonment railway station, attacked an RPF Inspector on Tuesday.

Rakesh, a vendor, was being taken to court when he suddenly pounced on Inspector Anil Kumar, tearing his uniform, before the other policemen present intervened.

A Bihari migrant with a criminal record, Rakesh used to sell cold drinks illegally on trains.

When Home Guard Jai Pal tried to stop him, Rakesh murdered him with a pointed rod used to break ice. Although he escaped, he was arrested in Ludhiana.

The police have registered another case of assaulting a government servant on duty.